Fishing tool



Feb, 15, c F. MQSELEY 12,108,499

7 I FISHING TOOL Original Filed June 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 15, 1938. c. F. MOSELEY 2,108,499

. FISHING TOOL Original Filed June 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 87,579. Divided and this application August 25, 1937, Serial No. 160,923

12 Claims.

The present application is a division of my application Serial No. 87,579 filed June 26, 1936. In the parent application I have disclosed improvements in tubing catchers or tubing stops and also a novel spear or fishing tool. The present application is filed for the purpose of specifically claiming said spear or fishing tool.

In many spears now in use, a solid cone or mandrel is mounted on a tubing or rod string and is used to spread a slip assembly so that the slips will engage the wall of the stuck tubing or casing at the desired point; the pull of the tubing or rod string then acting on the. cone to retain the slips in their spreaded position. The use,of such devices is subject to at least one major difficulty, which it is the purpose of my invention to overcome. When the tubing or rod string has been pulled and. the cone pressed against the slips, causing the teeth of the latter to engage the casing, such cones, because of the relatively large surface area thereof, which is in contact with the back of the slips, and after remaining in the well for a long period of time subject to corrosive and rusting action of well fluids, are wont to freeze to the slips, and oppose eifort to withdraw the same from engagement with the slips so that the slips may be collapsed to permit the entire structure to be removed from the well or to be reset at another point in the well casing.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a spear having a form of collapsible cone made in segments on which the slips are slidable, and which are in turn acted upon by a spreader plate or mandrel to force the teeth on the slips into engagement with the well casing. Said spreader plate or mandrel is in the form of a relatively flat frustum of a cone, the periphery of which may be smooth or formed in a series of steps or shoulders, or otherwise, so that the totalamount of the surface of the mandrel contacting the corresponding surfaces of the collapsible cone segments is relatively much less than the case of the solid cones heretofore used, and the danger of freezing of the slips will thereby be greatly minimized.

Another object of my invention is to furnish a fishing tool which will function in a highly efficient manner for the withdrawal of easing or tubing from a well, and one which may be readily disengaged from the casing or tubing while down below the surface of the ground.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation, partially in vertical section of a form of my invention showing slips in the collapsed position for free movement within the well casing.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device in operative position anchored within the well casing.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the latching slot for holding the slips in the collapsed or engaging position.

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the segments of the collapsible cone.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections taken along lines 55, 6--6 and I'I respectively, of Fig. 1.

Like numbers indicate like parts in the several drawings. 20

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a section of well bore or casing III in which is inserted a section of well string or tubing II adapted to be set or anchored in casing III on which is mounted the device of my invention, which consists of an elongated sleeve member I2 surrounding tubing II and spaced therefrom a suitable distance so as to form a generally annular chamber between tubing I I and sleeve I2. Extending from the inner wall of sleeve I2 toward tubing II is a ring I3 surrounding tubing II but not in contact therewith. Ring I3 divides the annular space between tubing II and sleeve I2 into an upper chamber I4 and a lower chamber I5. In the chamber I4 is a coil spring I6 surrounding tubing II and held in place against ring I3 by a follower I! which is fixedly mounted on tubing II and extends into the upper end of chamber I4. The outer surface of chamber I4 is of angular contour, as in the form of a square, and the outer surface of follower I I is complementary in shape (see Fig. '7) to permit telescoping of follower I1 into chamber I4 while preventing turning of sleeve I2 relative to follower I1 and to thereby cause sleeve I2 to turn with tubing II since follower I! is fixedly attached to tubing II. A cage I8 on which are mounted bow springs I9 surrounds the lower portion of sleeve I2, and lugs 20 extend inwardly from the lower end of cage I8 and. engage inverted L shaped slots 2| (Fig. 3) located in about the center of sleeve I2 and serve to hold cage I8 in engagement with sleeve I2, and slots 2| cooperate with lugs 20 to limit the vertical and lateral movement of cage I8 with relation to sleeve I2. Bow springs I9 are adapted to frictionally engage the inner walls of easing I0, the tension of bow springs I9 being sufficient to support the weight of cage I3 by frictional pressure exerted by springs I9 against the walls of casing Ill.

The lower end of sleeve I2 terminates in an annular skirt 22 which is of inverted U shape in diametrical section. The outer prong of the U turns inwardly toward tubing I I forming an annular lip 23 tending to partially close the opening of the U thus forming an annular groove 24 'in the lower end of sleeve I2, said groove opening downwardly. A series of are shaped plates 25 forming a collapsible cone are suspended from skirt 22 by means of tongues 23 having outwardly turned lips which engage the inwardly extending lips 23 forming a hinge type joint which permit plates 25 to swing toward or away from casing I3. Plates 25 are spaced apart a suflicient distance to permit of movement of plates 25 towards each other when they move in a direction away from the walls of casing Ill in assuming the collapsed position of Fig. 1. All of the plates 25 together form the collapsible cone which is one of the principal features of my invention. The maximum spread of plates 25 is regulated by means of straps 28, each of which has one end fixedly attached to one of plates 25 by means of a bolt 29 and the other end attached to an adjacent plate 25 by means of another bolt 30 which is slidably engaged in a slot 3| in strap 23. (Fig. 4.) By this means plates 25 may swing in wardly toward tubing II to the extent permitted by slots 3| in straps 28 and outwardly toward casing ill to the same extent. The maximum outward movement of plates 25 is such that the maximum outside diameter of the cone formed by plates 25 in their most extended position will be less than the inside diameter of casing II].

The lower edges of plates 25 are tapered downwardly and outwardly in a series of circular steps or seats 32. A mandrel 33 fixedly attached to tubing above the plates 25, is formed in the shape of a frustum of a cone, the outer surface of which is tapered inwardly and upwardly in a series of circular steps or shoulders 34 adapted to be seated in seats 32 when mandrel 33 is brought into contact with plates 25. As noted above, the lower edges of plates 25 may form a smooth conical seat and the outer surface of mandrel 33 may have a corresponding shape. The taper of the lower edges of plates 25 may be greater than that of mandrel 33 so that the points of contact of plates 25 with mandrel 33 will form a narrow ring. Or in the case of the step-wise taper illustrated, will form a series of concentric contact rings. The chief point to be noted is that the total surface thus in contact between plates 25 and mandrel 33 is kept very small for reasons to be more fully explained hereinafter.

A ring 35 suspended from cage [8, encompasses sleeve I2 between cage I8 and the skirt 22 of sleeve I2 and is slidable on sleeve I2. Attached to ring 35 by resilient arms 36 and extending therebelow are toothed arc-shaped slips 31. The inner faces of slips 3'! form surfaces tapering upwardly and complementary in shape to the outer faces of plates 25, with which they are in slidable engagement. Lugs 39 extend from the inner faces of slips 31 through elongated slots 43 formed in plates 25 which limit the movement of slips 31 over plates 25 to a vertical direction. Slots 40 are of suificient length to permit the maximum required amount of such movement.

Heads 4| on lugs 33 prevent disengagement of slips 31 from plates 25.

In the device illustrated, ring 35 and the lower end of cage I8 are joined together to form a swivel joint, and mandrel 33 carries a spear point 43 to aid in guiding the device into casing I0. When the device of my invention is to be used as a fishing tool it is inserted into the casing or tubing to be pulled in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When used as a fishing tool, the device functions in the following manner:

When the device is in the collapsed position of Fig. 1, lugs 20 are engaged in the lateral arms of slots 2| in which position the slips 31 are positioned on plates 25 at a point closest to the end member 22 of sleeve I2. When the device has been inserted in casing I to the desired position therein, tubing II is turned to disengage lugs 23 from the lateral arms of slots 2| and lugs 20 are thereby moved into the vertical arms of slots 2 I, whereupon a lift or pull is taken on tubing I. The upward movement of tubing II will cause plates 25 to move up over slips 31 and the outward taper of plates 25 will force slips 31 toward the walls of casing I3 until their teeth bite into the walls of easing ID. The continued upward movement of tubing II will bring pressure to bear through mandrel 33 on the contact surfaces of plates 25 and will thus act to firmly press the teeth on slips 31 into the walls of casing I0 and will hold the slips in firm engagement with casing II] as long as the pull is exerted on tubing When it is desired to release the hold of the device on casing II], the pull on tubing II is slackened. and tubing I is permitted to start downward into casing Ill, whereupon follower I1 will act upon spring I6 compressing it sufficiently to permit mandrel 33 to move downward out of engagement with seats 32 on plates 25. Thereupon plates 25 will collapse permitting slips 31 to spring inwardly pulling the teeth out of engagement with casing ill. Spring IE will then expand forcing plates 25 down over slips 31 and bring seats 32 again into contact with shoulders 34 on mandrel 33 and will at the same time bring lugs 20 upward in slots 2| until lugs 20 register with the lateral arms of slots 2| thereupon tubing I I is turned sufficiently to engage lugs 23 in the lateral arms of slots 2| locking slips 31 in the collapsed or inoperative position in exactly the same manner as described above. The entire device may then be withdrawn from casing ID.

Here again it will be evident that even though plates 25 may tend to freeze to slips 31, compression of spring It will permit mandrel 33 to move out of contact with seats 32 a distance sufficiently great to permit slips 31 and plates 25 to collapse inwardly toward tubing I as a result of the tension in the walls of casing IE1 and thus free slips 31 from the walls of easing II).

It will be evident that numerous modifications may be made in the elements of my device. For example, mandrel 33, instead of being solid as shown, may be in the form of a spider with spaces between the arms thereof to permit ready passage of well fluids therethrough. In this form there may be one or more arms of the spider in contact with each of the plates 25 in which case the area of contact between the spider arms and plates 25 will consist of a series of arcs. From a practical standpoint it is only necessary that the arms of the spider shaped mandrel be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the tubing and sufiiciently stiif to prevent the tension in the walls of casing Hi from forcing plates 25 inwardly by overcoming the resistance of the spider arms to such movement.

The number of slips 3'! and cone segments or plates 25 may be varied as desired depending upon the size of the casing with which the device is to be used.

Tubing ll may be replaced by a solid metal member or part of a rod string to obtain greater strength.

In the form of my new device illustrated her in, arms 36 attached to rings 35 and supporting slips 3! are shown as flat bars. These may be spring steel to allow sufiicient outward spring of slips 3? in order that slips 3'! may engage casing Ill and also to assist in causing slips 3'! to pull out of engagement with casing l0 when the pressure of the tubing is removed. Also arms 36, instead of being solidly attached toring 35 as shown, may be attached thereto by a hinge device.

Various other modifications in shape, size and form of the elements of the device will no doubt be apparent to those skilled in the art without occasioning a departure from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members suspended on said string, slips slidably engaging said cone, means secured to the lower end of the well string for holding said cone in expanded condition, said means being movable downwardly away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse toward the well string, the last-mentioned means including a substantially disc-shaped mandrel engageable with the lower end portions of the segmental members, and a spear head depending from the mandrel.

2. In a fishing tool of the class described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members suspended on said string, the

small end of the cone being uppermost, slips slidably engaging said cone, means secured to the lower end of the well string and at the lower ends of the segmental members for holding said cone in expanded condition, said means being movable axially downwardly of the well string away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse toward the well string, and a spear head depending from the mandrel.

3. In a fishing tool of the character described, a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members suspended on said string, the small end of the cone being uppermost, slips slidably engaging said members and adapted to interlock with the bore of a well, means secured to the lower end of the well string, arranged at the lower ends of said members and movable axially of the well string into and out of engagement with the lower end portions of said segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition, and a spear head depending from the mandrel.

4. A fishing tool of the character described, comprising a well string, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members suspended on said string, the small end of the cone being uppermost, slips slidably engaging said members and adapted to interlock with the bore of a well, means secured to the lower end of the well string, arranged at the lower ends of said members and movably axially of the well string into and out of engagement with the lower end portions of said segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition, a spear head suspended from said means, and means actuated by movement of the string relatively to said members for set- -cage in a fixed position while the sleeve is moved relatively thereto, a slip assembly carried by and depending from the cage, a collapsible cone suspended from the sleeve and including segmental members slidably engaging the slips, and means supported by the well string and positioned at the lower ends of the segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition.

6. In a fishing tool of the character described, a well string, a sleeve member slidable thereon, a collapsible cone including segmental members hingedly connected to the lower end of the firstmentioned member, a slip assembly having slips slidably engaging the segmental members and adapted to interlock with a well casing, a substantially disc-shaped mandrel secured to the lower end of the well string and engageable with the lower ends of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condi tion, said mandrel being movable downwardly away from the cone to allow the latter to collapse, and a spear head depending from the mandrel.

7. In a fishing tool of the character described, a well string, a member supported by the string, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having its upper end hingedly connected to the first-mentioned member, toothed slips slidably engaging the cone and adapted to grip the bore of a Well casing, a substantially disc-shaped mandrel secured to the lower end of the well string, arranged at the lower ends of said segmental members and having a relatively short annular surface engageable with the lower end portions of the segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition, said mandrel being movable downwardly away from the segmental members to allow the cone to collapse, and a spear head depending from said mandrel.

8. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported by the string,.a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having its upper end hingedly connected to the lower end of the sleeve, toothed slips slidably engaging the segmental members, slot and pin connections joining the slips to said members, means mounted on. the sleeve and adapted to frictionally engage the bore of a well for setting and releasing said slips, a substantially discshaped mandrel secured to the lower end of the well string and adapted to engage the lower end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition, said tubing being movable with the well string relatively to said cone for releasing the mandrel from. the cone to permit collapsing of the latter, and a spear head depending from the mandrel.

9. In a structure of the character described, a well string, a sleeve supported thereby and movably arranged relatively to the well string, a cage, a slot and pin connection joining the cage to the sleeve, friction means carried by the cage and engageable with the bore of the well for holding the cage in a fixed position while the sleeve moves relatively thereto, a slip assembly connected with and suspended from the cage, toothed slips forming part of said assembly and adapted to be set by movement of the sleeve relatively to the cage and slip assembly, a collapsible cone including segmental members, each having its upper end hingedly connected to the lower end of the sleeve, said slips slidably engaging said segmental members, and a mandrel supported by the tubing string and engageable with the lower end portions of the segmental members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition.

10. A fishing tool of the character described, comprising a well string, a collapsible cone supported by the string and comprising segmental members, said cone having its small end uppermost, means hingedly supporting said members from the upper ends thereof, toothed slips slidably engaging said members, means arranged above the members for setting said slips, a relatively short mandrel secured to the lower end of the well string and engageable with the lower end portions of said members for normally holding the cone in expanded condition, and a spear head depending from said mandrel.

11. A fishing tool of the character described, comprising a supporting structure, a collapsible cone supported by said structure and comprising pendant segmental members, each having its upper end hingedly connected to the supporting structure, toothed slips slidably engaging said segmental members, a relatively short mandrel secured to the lower end portion of the supporting structure and engageable with the lower end portions of the segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition, and a spear head depending from said mandrel.

12. A fishing tool of the character described, comprising a supporting structure, a follower mounted on said structure, a sleeve surrounding the supporting structure and having an internal shoulder, a spring surrounding the supporting structure and arranged between the follower and shoulder for urging the sleeve downwardly, a cage surrounding said sleeve and having internally extending lugs, the sleeve having inverted L-shaped slots into which the lugs extend, friction springs secured to the cage and engageable with the bore of the well for supporting the cage independently of the sleeve, a slip assembly connected to and suspended from the cage. and including a plurality of toothed slips, a collapsible cone comprising segmental members hingedly suspended from the lower end of the sleeve, said slips slidably engaging the segmental members, and a mandrel carried by the supporting structure and engageable with the lower end portions of the segmental members for holding the cone in expanded condition.

CHARLES F. MOSELEY. 

